Recording mechanism



Dec. 2s, 192s. a 1,612,014

E. E. HINRICHSEN RECORDING MECHANI SM Filed July 9, 19'23 2 sheets-sheet 1 Dec. 28 1926. 1,612,014

` E. E. HINRICHSEN RECORDING MEGHANISM Filed July 9, 192s 2 sheets-sheet 2 Cil Patented Dec. 28, 1926.

'Urrea STATES;

Llla

Prem orrlcs.

EDW'ARD E. HINRCHSEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNQR TO WESTERN ELECTRC COMPANY, NCORPORATED, OF NEV "YORK,` N. Y., ACORPORATON 0F NEW YORK.

RECORDING MEYCHANSM.

Application led July 9,

This invention relates to recording and selecting mechanisms, and more particularly to such devices when adapted to 'telephone exchange systems.

The objectot thc invention is an improved recording and selecting equipment comprising a plurality ofcounting devices, such as relays, operated in response to impulse series representing designations.

A feature of the invention relates to a series of counting relays less in number than the number ot impulses in a series inwhich the energized relays are released as a result ot' the operation oi succeeding relays, and in which certain relays are released by the operation of a particular relay on the first operation ot' the series, Vand released upon the operation ot another and dilierent counting relay in a subsequent operation oit' the series.

`Other and further features contemplated by the present inventionl will' be more clearly understood from the following detailed description and from the Vappended claims.

Tfeterring to the drawing, Figs. 1 and 2 taken together illustrate an embodiment of the recording and selecting mechanism em ployed in a telephone system.' Fig. 1 discloses two subscribers lines terminating 1n a. line switch at the central oitice, other switches tor extending the line, together with the details ot an impulse receiving and selecting mechanism. Fig. 2 shows in full two separate relay register devices, each for receiving" and recoi cling a diiiierent portion of a. designation. .At 'the right' of this figure there is also illustrated schematically an additional register ior recording another part ot the designation.

ln telephone systems ot' the automatic and semi-automatic type it is sometimes desirable to register on apparatus at the central cnice the dcsignatonof the wanted line or circuit. rlliis registration servesto control the selectiife'operations ot the switches to extend the required connection r for controlling the operation oit indicating mechamism, which enables an opcrator'to extend or complete the desired call. It is in a system oi" this general character that the recording mechanism embodying the features of applicants invention is particularly useful. Obviously, boweveigthe invention is appli1 1923. serial No. 650,290.

cable in its broadest aspects to anysystem wherein it is desired to establish a record by means ot impulses.

1n the system disclosed, the subscribers lines, such as lines 100 and 101, extend to the central'oiiice and terminate in a line switch 102, diagrammatically shown. rEhe line switch 102 is adapted to extend the calling line to any of al number ot trunks, one ot' which, trunk'lOS, 1011-, is illustrated leading to a first selectorI switch 106. Switch 106 may be ot the same character as the line switch 102, and has tor its function to extend the incomingtrunks to outgoing trunks. Several ot the outgoing vtrunks 107 to 112, inclusive, are illustrated. Obviously, these outgoing trunks may lead to succeeding selective switching devices, where they are again selcctively connected to other trunks, and so on until the connection is complete.

Also located at the central ottice is an impulse receiving and recording mechanism comprising an organization ot relays and circuits the :tunction ot which is to receive the impulses transmitted from the calling line andrcccrd the designations represented by these impulses. `There may be any desired number ot' recording mechanisms for serving a group of subscribers lines, the particularone to be taken 'for use at any one time depending upon its busy or idle condition. The selector switch 105 is provided 'for associating an idleV one et the recording mechanisms with a particular trunk 103, 104, to which the calling subscribers line has been connected.

The switches 102, G and 105 may bc ott the coordinate type, such as generally shown and described in detail in the Patent 1,517,-

3531, issued to S. l. `lVilliams, December 2, 192e. Further-more, these switches may be ci: any well known andl approved type, such as power driven `selectors or selectors in which multi-contact relays are employed for building up'connections with means for selecting and operating the necessary relays.

A detailed description will' now be given ot' the operation ot' the systems. Assui'nc, for example, that the subscriber of line 100 wishes to make acall to a.' line, the first two digits in the designation of which are represented by series oit two and three impulses respectively, transmitted over `l"the line.

These impulse series are received hy the counting relay set 1.26, shown in Fig. 1, and recorded successively on the respective reg- .ister 200 and 201, shown in Fig. 2. llVhen the calling` suhseriher initiates the call by removing' his receiver trom the switohhoolr, the line switch 1 2 operates to extend the line to an idle trunlr 108, 101. loreover, the selecting` switch also operates and associates the idle recording` register shown with the selected trunk 103, 10st.

ln response to these operations, a circuit is closed from battery, resistance 117, left hand Winding,- of impulse relay 15, oontacts ot the selector switch 105, trunlr conductor lOl, through contacts ot the line switch 102 over the ,suhsorihefs line 100 and returning through contacts ot the line switch 102, trunk conductor 103, contacts of selector su'iteh 105, through the halano ing Coil 1151` to ground. llelay operates and at its right contact Closes a circuit ol the slow release relay 119. Relay 119 at its lett Contact applies ground potential to the holding Conductor 1416 for maintaining the various relays operated. Relay 119 also closes a circuit from battery through the resistance 116, Winding; of relay 120 to lground at the right Contact ot relay 119. Relay 120, however, does not operate in this Circuit so longl as relay 115 remains energized to maintain the following shunt path around the Winding of relay 120: hatt-ery, through the resistance 11G, lett Contact ot relay '115, right Contact ot relay 119 to ground.

lll ien the suhseriher operates his impulse transmitter 15 to send tiyo impulses oonstitilting; the lirst seriesD the impulse relay 11.3, deeneigi'izes twine in succession. On the vtrst deenerli'ization of relay 115 the shunt circuit around relay 120 is ogened and this relay immediately operates. llelai.' 120 completes a circuit from ground oiy r eonduotor 1&0, outer right Contact er" reln 120,.v Winding* ot relay 12? to battery. i energizes and locks in a circuit from hru'itery. through its upg trent Contact, ruimer Contact ot relay 12st` to grounded conductor 14:6.

llt the time relay 119 operated it closes a circuit from battery, through the Wind' if; ot slow1 release relay upper haelt com tact et relay 123, upper Contact olf relay 124, conductor 140, to ground at the left Contact oli relay 110. lelay 122 operates in this circuit and "s held in the following circuit .fitter relay 1253 becomes energized: battery, through the Winding` ol: relay 122, lelt front contant of relay 120 to the A.grouudell nou rluotor 110.

llllhen relay 120 operates at the lirst opening. of the line Circuit. it closes a circuit from iaround. through its inner right contact, conductor 148,' right haelt contacts ot counting relays 13S, 15541.-, 132, 130, and 128,

miams Winding of counting relay 127 to battery. Relay 127 operates and Closes a oireuit from battery through its Winding and the winding oill relay 128, Contact ot relay 127, lett h el; Contact ot relay 130, inner lett haol; Contact of relay 138, lett haelt Contact of relay 184, Conductor 1417, louer Contact of relay 1211, upper iront Contact oi relay 123, upper Contact ot relay 124: to the grounded conductor 146. Relay 128, however, does not operate in this circuit since its Winding is shunted hy the above trac-ed operating eir cuit for relay 127. lllhen the relay 115 operetes upon the next closure ot the line, relay 120 is shunted and. oeenergizes. Relay 120 in deenergizing opens the shunt around the relay 128 and this relay operates in series with relay 127 in the circuit above traced. Thus, at the end of the lirst opening ot' the subscriber-s line countingrelays 12'? and 128 c are energized and looked through Contacts et relay 123.

The circuit of relay 119 is opened at each deenergization of the line relay 115 and the circuit of relay 122 is opened at each deenergization ot' the relay 120. Relays 119 and 122, hou-ever, being slow to release, maintain their armatures attracted during, these momentary interruptions oit their eircuits.

llfhen the line circuit opens the second time, relay 115 rel-eases, and removing the shunt, allows relay 120 to operate. A circuit is nou' closed from ground, through the inner right Contact ot relay 120, thence over conductor 1118, as ahoye traced, through the right 'front Contact of relay 128, Winding of relay 129 to battery. Relay 129 opeates and closes a oirouit Yfrom hattery through its Winding,` and the WindingY of relay 130, Contact of relay 1.20, inner left haelt Contact of relay 138, lett Contact ot relay 134i, conductor lell to ground. lelay 130. however. being shunted. does not oj Y at this time. At the end ot the oprfiing;l period ot the line, relay 120 is released and removing the shunt, permits relay 130 to operate in series with relay 129. 9)

operating` opens at its letl haelt Contact holding` (fi-cuit ot relays 2'? and 12S, and these. relays heeonie def-energized.

Alter the usual interval has expired folH lowing' the lirst series of interruptions, relay 120 will remain deenergized for a sui'lieient period to permit slouT relay 122 to release. 1:' Relay 122 completes a circuit trom ground.

over conductor 1&6. through. its Contant, lower rcnliaet ot relay 123, ini e tact ot relay 12e, conductor 1 Contact of relay 205, Winding o to liattery.. Relay 2011 operates and prepares a eireuit trom battery through its i ving,` and right Contact, conductor 115, winding ot relay 1241, lower Contact of relay 123, contact of relay 122 to the grounded conductor through the inner contact of relay 218, right front contact of relay 216, innermost right front contact of relay 214, next to the inner left back contact of relay 215, to the selecting conductor In a similar manner the selecting circuits tor the remaining registers are also completed.

inasmuch as the present invention relates more particularly to the arrangement and functions ot the counting relay set shown in F ig. 1, it has not been considered necessary to illustrate in detail the method of control Which the several registers may exercise over the switches.

Thus tar only the first three counting relay sets have been operated, accounting tor series up to three impulses in number. ln order to illustrate the Jfurther operations ol' the counting relays, a. description Will now be given of the apparatus in response to series of impulses representing the remaining seven digits.

Assume that a series of four impulses is received. The operation is the same as already described tor the first three impulses. Upon the opening ot the subscribers line for the fourth time, relating to the last impulse in a series oll tour, relay operates and the grounded conductor 148 is extended over the back contacts ot relay 138, 134, right trent contact ot relay 132, inner right back contact ot' relay 136, Winding of relay 133 to battery. Relay 133 operates and closes a circuit from battery, through its Winding and the Winding ot relay 134, contact of relay 133, outer right Contact oi" relay 136 to ground over conductor 147. Relay 134, however, does not operate at this time since its Winding is shunted. A. moment later, when the line circuit closes and relay 120 releases, the shunt is removed and relay 134 operates in series With relay 133. `Relay 134 at its lett back Contact opens the holding circuits ot relays 129, 130, 131 and 132 and these relays become deenergized.

It a series ot live impulses are transmitted, the last opening of the subscribers line causes the operation of relay 120, as explained, and the grounded.conductor 148 is extended over the right back contact of relay 138, right ltr-ont Contact of relay 134, winding of relay 135 to battery. Relay 135 operates and prepares a circuit from battery through its Winding, the Winding of relay 136 to ground at conductor 147. Relay 136, being shunted, is not operated. 4lilhen the line circuit is again closed and relay 120 releases, the shunt is removed and relay 136 operates in series with relay 135. Relay 136 in operating opens at its outer right contact Ythe holding circuit of relay 133 and 134.

It a series of six impulses are transmitted, relay 120 is energized on the last opening of the subseribers line and the circuit is again extended from ground,'over conductor 148,

right back contact of relay 138, right back contacts of relays134, 132, and 128, Winding of relay 127 to battery. Relay 127 operates and in the manner above explained prepares a circuit for relay 128, relay 128, however, remaining deenergized. When the line is closed and relay 120 releases, the shunt is removed and relay 128 operates in series with relay 127. It Will be noted that for a series ot six impulses rela-ys 127, 128, and 136 are operated.

For a series ot seven impulses, the relay 120 in operating on the last opening of the line extends a circuit over conductor 148, right back contacts of relays 138, 134, 132 and 130, right front contact of relay 128, Winding of relay 129 to battery. Relay 129 operates' and in the manner above described prepares a circuit for relay 130. Wrhen the line circuit closes again, relay 130 operates and relays 127 and 128 release.

For a series of eight impulses, relay 120 in operating on the last opening of the line circuit extends the grounded conductor 148 over the right back contacts of relays 138, 134 and 132, right liront Contact of relay 130, winding of relay 131 to battery. Relay 131 operates and prepares a circuit for relay 132. As the line circuit again closes the shunt is removed and relay 132 operates in series with relay 131. 1t Will be noted that for a series oit eight impulses counting relays 129, 130, 131, 132, 135 and 136 are operated and the remaining relays are deenergized.

Should the subscriber send nine impulses, the relay 120 in operating on the last opening of the line extends the grounded cendrietor 148 over the right back contact of relay 138, right back contact of relay 134, right front Contact of relay 132, inner right iront contact oi' relay 136, Winding of relay 137 to battery. Relay 137 operates and prepares a circuit for itselic in series With the Winding of relay 138. lVhen the line circuit closes, relay 138 operates in series with relay 137. Relay 138 in operating opens the holding circuit of relays 129, 130, 131 and 132. These relays become deenergized.

It aseries of ten impulses are transmitted, the relay 120 in responding to the last 0pening of the line circuit completes a circuit over the grounded conductor 148, to the right front contact ot relay 138, Winding of relay 133 to battery. Relay 133 operates, and When the line circuit .subsequently closes, relay 134 operates in a circuit as follows: battery, through the winding of relay 133, Winding ot' relay 134. Contact ot' relay 133, outer lett contact oit relay 138 to the ground-- ed conductor 147.

From an inspection of the circuits it will. be found that with the counting relays 126 operated in the various combinations above described for the dierentdigits, the several relays ot the registers 200, 201, 203, etc., are

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correspondingly operated in different combinations.

The following chart shows the manner in which the counting relays are operated either singly or in combination to record the impulses transmitted in accordance with the ten numerical digits and the combinations of control conductors which are grounded by the relays.

l/Vhen the recording mechanism is no longer required, the circuit of relay 115 is opened by the restoration of switch 105 as disclosed in the patent to S. B. Williams hereinbeore referred to. Relay 115 then opens the circuit of relay 119, which becomes deenergized and removes ground from conductor 146. The removal of ground from this conductor permits all energized relays in the control and register circuits to be re- What is claimed is:

1. In combination, va series of relays including means whereby the relays of said series may operate successively and repeatedly, and means for releasing cert-ain of said relays upon the operation of succeeding re lays, including means whereby a given one of said relays is released in response to the operation of a particular succeeding relay upon the first operation of the .series and is released in response to the operation of a diiierent succeeding relay upon a subsequent operation of the series.

2. In combination, a series of pairs of re lays including means whereby vthe pairs of relays of said .series operate successively and repeatedly in response to series of impulses, and means for releasing a number of pairs of said relays While impulses are being re ceived, including means whereby a given pair of said relays is released in response to the operation of a particular succeeding relay and on another' operation of the series is released in response to the operation of a different succeeding relay.

8. In combination, a series of pairs of counting relays -including means whereby the pairs of relays of said series may operate and reoperate one after another in response to series of impulses, there being less pairs of relays than the maximum number of impulses in a series, and means for releasing said relays in response to the operation of succeeding relays. including means whereby a plurality of said relays is released in response to the operation of a particular 4succeeding relay and on the next operation of thevseries is released in response to the operation o'l'.' a different succeeding relay.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 2nd day of July A. D., 1923.

EDWARD E. I-IINRICI-ISEN. 

